Anchored HydroResistance Speed Training

ABSTRACT

Anchored HydroResistance Speed Training is a running speed training apparatus and training method which is used/done underwater. The apparatus is used to firmly stabilize a floating person&#39;s hips while they carryout sprinting mechanics in a maximal rate of force development manner against the resistant environment of the water they are submerged in. The rationale is to enable water-resisted maximal rate of force production training using sprinting mechanics, where this otherwise is not feasible due to the lack of anchoring to a sturdy surface. The apparatus provides the necessary anchoring of a person to an affixed object and stabilizes the waist, iliac crest, anterior iliac spine, and thoracolumbar regions, without restricting limbs, thereby allowing the primary ranges of motion involved in sprinting. The base of the apparatus is firmly affixed to the floor of pools by way of a suction cup base or by being permanently installed into a pool floor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/903,928, filed Sep. 22, 2019, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

My invention pertains to the fields of endeavor of exercise science, strength & conditioning, sports performance training, sprint training, running speed training, athletic training, physical therapy, and physical rehabilitation.

My invention is premised on applying the principle of exercise training known as “specificity”, which deals with training muscles in a manner specific to the adaptations one is hoping to yield. When it comes to increasing maximal running speed (i.e. “top-end speed), which is a training outcome highly sought out by many people, including athletes, if one intends to more optimally apply the principle of specificity, it would demand not only training the specific primary muscles involved in top-end speed running, but it would demand that one also train with particular emphasis on “rate of force production” (i.e. rapidly exerting explosive force) and doing so with a movement pattern analogous to top-end speed biomechanics.

A specific problem involved in the prior art that my invention is drawn to is that, to my knowledge, there is no single modality of training that allows for the aforementioned to be done, except perhaps parachute training and weighted sled pulling type training. However, both these prior arts have the shortcomings of having resistance placed unevenly, and on one specific area of the body. In the case of parachute sprint training the direction of the resistant forces can be erratic due to wind conditions. In the case of sled training the resistant forces are applied unequally on the body (e.g. a person feels the resistance pulling on their upper torso if they are wearing a chest harness or on their waist if they are wearing belt harness). Both shortcomings of these two training methods/apparatus attenuate the “specificity” principle related to maximal running speed, since the forces one is striving to overcome during top-end speed training (i.e. inertia, air drift) are more evenly distributed throughout ones entire body.

Furthermore, when it comes to physical therapy and physical rehabilitation related training, top-end speed training (including training using parachutes, sleds, and non-resisted max sprinting) is commonly considered to be a significantly high impact activity. Rehabilitation following many lower body musculoskeletal injuries oftentimes consists of being able to do top-end speed training only at the very latter part of recovery, once the injured sight is able to take on the load and/or impact typically induced by such training, or once the person is considered to be fully recovered. To my knowledge, with the exception of antigravity treadmills which use sophisticated air pressure manipulation technology, there isn't any other training method or apparatus which allows for top-end speed running mechanics to take place in a low (or “no”) impact, and load-bearing minimizing, manner. However, in the case of antigravity treadmills a shortcoming is that antigravity reduce load and impact but do not provide the beneficial added resistance necessary to optimally train one's top-end speed. Additionally, perhaps a much more significant problem related to antigravity treadmills is that although they are very sophisticated masterfully designed machines, they are relatively very expensive, to the point that very few people have access to using antigravity treadmills.

Applicable Cooperative Patent Classifications Include:

-   A63B: -   A63B 21/00047; A63B 21/00181; A63B 21/0407; A63B 21/0414; A63B     21/1681; A63B 21/4001; A63B 21/4009; A63B 21/4023; A63B 21/4039;     A63B 21/4043; A63B 22/001; A63B 22/0015; A63B 22/0025; A63B     2022/0043; A63B 22/0046; A63B 22/0048; A63B 2022/0051; A63B 22/0089;     A63B 2022/0092; A63B 2022/0094; A63B 23/0216; A63B 23/03516; A63B     23/03575; A63B 23/03591; A63B 23/0405; A63B 23/0482; A63B 2213/00;     A63B 2214/00; A63B 2225/055; A63B 2225/093; A63B 2225/60; A63B     2225/605; A63B 69/0028 -   A61H: -   A61H 2003/007; A61H 2201/0115; A61H 2201/013; A61H 2201/018; A61H     2201/0173; A61H 2201/1626; A61H 2201/1628; A61H 2201/1652; A61H     2203/02; A61H 2205/062; A61H 2205/085; A61H 2205/086; A61H 2205/088;     A61H 2205/108

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Anchored HydroResistance Speed Training invention is a running speed training apparatus and a running speed training method which is used/done while underwater. This running speed training method and apparatus allows a person to carry out the biomechanics of top-end sprinting, within the resistant environment provided from being submerged in water. The apparatus is used to hold a floating person's hips in place (i.e. stabilize the hips while anchoring the waist/hip region to a firmly affixed object), so as to allow the person to carry out top-end speed running mechanics underwater. The person simply wears an exercise flotation belt (or similar device) which will cause their feet to float above the pool floor. The apparatus anchors to the pool floor in two embodiment by way of a suction cup base, and in a third embodiment the apparatus anchors to the pool floor by having the left-side and right-side structures permanently installed into the floor of a pool. Once a person's hips have been anchored to the apparatus and essentially immobilized, this allows for a person to exert maximal sprint-like running forces while using relevant top-end speed biomechanics, in a water-resistant setting.

The rationale behind this is to offer a training apparatus and training method that enables athletes to train their top-end running speed by using maximal rate of force production sprinting mechanics in the evenly resistant environment offered underwater. The apparatus provides the necessary anchoring of a person to a firmly affixed object/surface and stabilizes the waist, iliac crest, anterior iliac spine, and thoracolumbar regions, without restricting lower limb movement, thereby allowing the replication of the primary ranges of motions involved in sprinting. The base of the apparatus is firmly affixed to the floor of pools by way of a suction cup base or by being permanently installed into a pool floor. Given the rigid strong material of the entire structure, when both sides of the apparatus are firmly affixed to the floor, if a person has their iliac crest and anterior iliac spine region snuggly clamped between the two padded hip stabilizing pieces, and if they're furthermore strapped in tightly with the apparatus belt which has a sturdy padded back pad, this should essentially immobilize the individual's waist/pelvic region and enable water-resisted maximal rate of force production training using sprinting mechanics, where this otherwise is not feasible underwater due to the need to be anchored to an affixed object/surface in order to train in such a manner in an underwater environment.

Anchored HydroResistance Speed Training also solves the prior art existing problem of having resistance applied from particular directions, since Anchored HydroResistance Speed Training allows for maximal running speed mechanic replication, while applying resistance in an evenly distributed consistent manner (including on the arm swinging motion,) which is more specific to the experience with inertia and air drift forces that are encountered during maximal speed running. My invention also solves the previously existing problem of antigravity treadmills being the only training method and training apparatus which allows for top-end speed mechanics to take place in an impact-minimizing and load bearing minimizing manner. As it relates to that problem, my invention provides a substantially less financially costly training method and apparatus (which unlike antigravity treadmills, provides resisted rate of force development type training), all while also done in a “no”-impact and minimally load-bearing manner. The fact that Anchored HydroResistance Speed Training is a “no”-impact and minimally load bearing form of training, means that many individuals recovering and/or rehabbing from lower body musculoskeletal injury, can now get back to maximal running speed type training much earlier into their recovery and/or rehabilitative process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1A. depicting an anterior view of apparatus

FIG. 1B. depicting a posterior view of apparatus

FIG. 1C. depicting a posterior view of apparatus (with unlocked latch for easy apparatus exit)

FIG. 2A. depicting an anterior view of apparatus (“dip for arm swing passage” embodiment)

FIG. 2B. depicting a posterior view of apparatus (“dip for arm swing passage” embodiment)

FIG. 3A. depicting an anterior view of apparatus (“permanently affixed to floor” embodiment)

FIG. 3B. depicting a posterior view of apparatus (“permanently affixed to floor” embodiment)

DETAILED DECRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Two “upside down ‘L’-shaped” rigid structures, where both structures are to be set on a swimming pool floor facing each other as illustrated by FIG. 1A. through FIG. 3B. with one structure being the left-side structure 7 and the other structure being the right-side structure 9. The left and right bodies of the apparatus are firmly anchored to the floor of swimming pools by way of a sturdy suction cup base 14 which can be activated by pressing down on the base suction cup lever 10 (for the “lever suction cup embodiment”) or by pumping the vacuum pump handle 12 (for the “vacuum pump embodiment”). Additionally, there is one more embodiment (the “permanently affixed to floor embodiment”), as shown in FIG. 3A. and FIG. 3B. This embodiment consists of the same structure as illustrated in FIG. 2A. and FIG. 2B. with the exception that the left-side and right-side structures 7, 9 are installed to be permanently fixed into the floor of a pool 43, and with the distinction that this embodiment has both a “height of athlete” adjusting vertical aspect 16 and a “width of athlete” adjusting horizontal cantilevers 46.

Given the rigid strong material of the entire structure, when an person has both sides of the apparatus firmly affixed to the floor, and the athlete has their hip/pelvic region snuggly clamped between the two athlete hip cushion stabilizing pieces 17, 19, and if they're furthermore strapped in tightly with the apparatus belt 5, this will immobilize the person's waist/pelvic region. Due to the anatomy of the hip joint (more specifically the relationship between the ilium and the femur bones in humans), even though the waist and ilium regions are being immobilized and held tightly by both sides of the apparatus and belt, this would not preclude hip flexion and extension from occurring (i.e. it will not prevent a person's legs from carrying out the primary leg movements associated with top-end speed sprinting mechanics).

When the left and the right vertical rigid structure are adjusted in height 16, such that the extending horizontal aspects 20 of the left and right structure are approximately to the height of the person's hips, and if the left and right structures 7, 9 are aligned close enough so that if the apparatus is firmly affixed to the pool floor, either by way of the base suction cup lever 10 in the “lever suction cup embodiment” or by way of the base suction cup activation pump 12 in the “vacuum suction cup embodiment”, or by way of the “permanently affixed embodiment”, the distal edge of the left and the right horizontally extending cantilevers 20, which articulate to the “athlete hip cushion” 17, 19, will clamp the left and right ilium regions of the user of the apparatus, respectively.

So that if the person using the apparatus simply wears an water-aerobics flotation belt (or a similar flotation device) which, in about shoulder height water, will cause their feet to float just above the pool floor, and then if they simultaneously have their hips clamped by the “athlete hip cushions” 17, 19 which are articulations of the distal edges of the horizontally extending cantilevers 20, and if the user then has their waist/iliac crest/anterior iliac spine/thoracolumbar regions further firmly stabilized by putting on and fastening the apparatus belt 5 (which will have the additional sturdy support of the belt back pad 24), the user's anatomical trunk will be stabilized and sturdily anchored, so as to allow maximal running speed efforts to carried out by the user under water. Lastly, in-between exercise training sets (i.e. during rest/recovery instances), the athlete may unbuckle the apparatus belt 5 and as depicted in FIG. 1C, then unlock the right horizontally extending cantilever's latch 21a so that the horizontal cantilever can swivel downward by way of the hinge 22 (thereby eliminating the ilium clamping function prior established by the two horizontally extending cantilevers 20), and thus allowing the person to step out of the apparatus, without needing to wiggle and/or squeeze out of the otherwise established clamp. 

1. I claim as my invention a running-speed training apparatus comprising: two “upside down ‘L’-shaped” rigid structures, where both structures are to be set on a swimming pool floor facing each other, with one structure being the left-side structure and the other structure being the right-side structure; both the left and the right rigid structures each having a suction cup base that enables the left and right structures, to be temporarily firmly attached to swimming pool floors upon activation of the left and right structure's base suction cup function, thereby establishing firmly anchored vertical aspects for each rigid structure which articulate into the horizontal aspects of each rigid structure forming two horizontal cantilevers; so that a person can adjust the height of the vertical aspects of the left and right structures, so that the left and right “athlete hip cushions” are approximately at the height of the person's hips, so that the person, with their anatomical frontal plane aligned with the horizontally extending cantilevers, can stand in the gap between the horizontally extending cantilever of the left and right structures, so that when the person sets the left and right structures close enough, the distal edge of the left and the right horizontally extending cantilevers articulating to the “athlete hip cushion” will clamp the respective left and right ilium regions of the person, upon activation of the left and right structure's base suction cup function.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a horizontally extending cantilever's latch that can be unlocked so that the corresponding horizontally extending cantilever swivels on the hinge, removing the clamping effects of the two horizontally extending cantilevers, allowing the person to step out of the gap between the horizontally extending cantilevers without having to squeeze or wiggle out of the otherwise clamping horizontally extending cantilevers.
 3. I claim as my invention a running-speed training apparatus comprising: two “upside down ‘L’-shaped” rigid structures, where both structures are permanently affixed to a pool floor, with one structure being the left-side structure and the other structure being the right-side structure and both structures facing each other; where two firmly anchored cantilevers are formed by the horizontal aspects of left-side and right-side rigid structure, which are an articulations of the vertical rigid aspects of each structure, which are an articulation of the bases of each structure which are permanently affixed to the pool floor; so that if the person setting up to use the apparatus stands in-between the horizontally extending cantilevers of the left and right structures, and if the vertical aspects of the left and right structures are adjusted so that the left and right “athlete hip cushions” are approximately to the height of the person's hips, and if the left and right structures' horizontal width adjusting cantilevers are adjusted in length, the distal edge of the left and the right horizontally extending cantilevers which articulate to the “athlete hip cushion” can clamp the respective left and right ilium regions of the user of the apparatus.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a horizontally extending cantilever's latch that can be unlocked so that the corresponding horizontally extending cantilever swivels on the hinge, removing the clamping effects of the two horizontally extending cantilevers, allowing the person to step out of the gap between the horizontally extending cantilevers without having to squeeze or wiggle out of the otherwise clamping horizontally extending cantilevers.
 5. I claim as my invention a method for training running speed comprising: standing in-between a left-side structure and a right-side “upside down ‘L’-shaped” rigid structure that are permanently affixed to a pool floor and facing each other; and standing in-between so as to have the person's anatomical frontal plane aligned with the horizontally extending cantilevers of the left and right structures; adjusting the vertical aspects of the left and right structures' height, setting the height of the structure so that the left and right “athlete hip cushions” are approximately to the height of the person's hips; adjusting length of the horizontal aspects of the left and right structures thereby setting the width of the gap between both structures narrow enough so that the distal edge of the left and the right horizontal cantilevers can clamp the iliac crest and anterior iliac spine regions of the person standing in-between the left and right “athlete hip cushion” of the apparatus; having on a water aerobics flotation belt or another similar flotation device causing the person to float; closing the structure's belt and fastening the structure's belt, and floating while simultaneously having the waist and ilium regions firmly stabilized by the horizontally extending cantilevers and the apparatus belt, having the anatomical trunk stabilized and anchored; carrying out sprinting top-end speed running mechanics underwater in a resisted maximal rate of force production manner.
 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising using a left-side structure and a right-side “upside down ‘L’-shaped” rigid structures that can be removed off of the pool floor, wherein the two portable rigid structures each have a suction cup base; setting the left-side structure and the right-side structure on a swimming pool floor facing each other; aligning the left-side and right-side structures so that they are on the same plane; and moving both structures close enough so that the distal edge of the left and the right horizontally extending cantilevers that articulate into the “athlete hip cushion” will have a width gap distance that snuggly wedges the iliac crest and anterior iliac spine regions of the person standing in-between the left and right structures; having on a water aerobics flotation belt or another similar flotation device causing the person to float; wherein prior to closing the structure's belt and fastening the structure's belt, the base suction cup functions of the left and right structures are activated thereby temporarily firmly attaching the left and right structures to a pool floor and establishing a clamping of the left and right ilium regions of the person between the “athlete hip cushions” articulating from the horizontally extending cantilevers; wherein the floating person is simultaneously having the waist and ilium regions firmly stabilized by the horizontally extending cantilevers upon closing the structure's belt and fastening the structure's belt, having the anatomical trunk stabilized and anchored to the pool floor by the activating of both structures' suction cup base functions; carrying out sprinting top-end speed running mechanics underwater in a resisted maximal rate of force production manner. 